Closure for metallic drums and the like and method of making same



May 5, 1931. H, ELUS 1,803,847

CLOSURE FOR METALLIC DRUMS AND THE LIKE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed March 3, 1928 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY Patented May 5, 1931 Unirse PATENT erica HARTLEY ELLES, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF TWENTY-ONE FORTETI-S T ELIZABETH M. ELLIS, OF ER'E, PENNSYLVANIA CLOSURE FOR METALLIC DRUMS AND THE LIKE ANN METHOD 0F MAKING SAME Application filed March 3,

The present invention, as indicated, relates to a closure for metallic drums, and the like, and method of making same, and the primary object thereof is to provide an inexpensive but efficient closure of the type indicated which may be easily attached to or removed from the drum and which will provide a practically air-tight closure. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully 'described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed dra-wings and the following description set forth in detail certain mecha- 15 nism embodying t-he invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be use-d.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a drum with a closure of the type contemplated by the present invention attache-d thereto; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section thereof; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the drum Y header; Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are sectional views of details of construction.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 indicates a drum, or the like, provided with an annular header indicated generally at 2, said header being securedto the drum by any well known type of joint such as is indicated at 3. The v header 2 is bent to provide a. substantially horizontal annular shelf 4 bounded at its outer edge by a vertical shoulder 5, and a second narrower self 6 is depressed below the level of the shelf 4 at the inner edge of the latter. A down turned flange 7 depends from the inner edge of the shelf 6. At spaced pointsabout the surface of the shelf 4 upwardly projecting lugs 8 are provided. These lu ks are preferably headed rivets suitablv secured in the metal of the shelf 4.

The closure proper. indicated generally at 9, is adisk-like member formed with a central depressed portion 10 and an annular flange 11. The flange 11 is formed with a plurality of spacedkeyhole slot-s 12 adapted to cooperate with the lugs 8. Each of the slots 12 is bounded laterally by cam members 1923. Serial No. 258,752.

18. Each of said cam members comprises a gradually sloping face 14 extending from a point adjacent the large end of the keyhole slot to an apex 15, and a suddenly sloping face 16 extending from said apex toa point adjacent the other end of the slot.

A resilient washer 17 which is annular in shape and circular in cross section under normal conditions is adapted to rest upon the shelf 6 of the header 2.

In use, after the drum has been filled, the closure 9 is placed in position on the header, attention being called to the fact that the depressed portion 10 fits snugly within the depending flange 7 of the header 2. The heads of the lugs 8 are of such size as to be insertable through the large ends 19 of the slots 12. When the closure has been brought into this position, it rests upon the washer 17. Rotation of the closure in a clockwise direction,A as viewed in Fig. 1, will cause coaction of the cam faces 14 with the conical heads 18 of the lugs 8 to cause the washer 17 to be compressed. t will be seen thatl the shelf 6 and its shoulder cooperate with the closure 9 and its flange 11 to enclose the washer 17 to prevent extrusion thereof upon the exertion of such pressure. Consequently a very tight closure may be obtained in the above manner. t

In the manufacture of the closure contemplated by the present invention, the flanged disk-like member is first formed by stamping or spinning, and thereafter the keyhole slots are formed. lt is to be understood that these slots may be formed simultaneously or individually. Preferably, the flange is punched to form the circular apertures 19, after which a wedge-shaped piece, the base of which intersects the aperture 19 and the apex'of which'coincides with the point 15 is cut out,-and a second wedge-shaped piece having an apex with less acute angularity and having its apex coincident with the apex of said rst wedge-shaped piece is cut out. It will readily be seen that the above described cutting results in two meeting substantially triangular flaps which may be bent upwardly to form the cam members 13 and the slots 20 intersecting the apertures 19.

In closing the container, a compression of the washer or gasket is first obtained from a portion of the coned heads 18 of the lugs 8 and then additional pressure is obtained by the rise of the cam members 13. When the apex of each cam member passes beyond its rivet head, the closure is forced by the resilience of the gasket 17 to move slightly upward, guided by the sloping faces 16 until the end of the slot strikes the rivet thus locking the closure in place, since to open, the closure must move downwardly a trifle to permit the apex 15 of each cam surface to pass its rivet head. The angle of the ycam members 13 may also be varied slightly with respect to the plane of the closure head to obtain -an increased compression and the entire range may be readily varied by varying the shape of the members. Preferably a U- shaped member 21 is attached to tl e upperl surface of the Clo-sure by rivets 22 or the like, to receive a bai` for use in rotating the closure member and the friction to be overcome is very considerable.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed. i

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention: j

1. The combination with a metallic drum, oi the like, having an annular header, of a v'disk-like closure therefor comprising a cenftral depressed portion adapted to fit within said header and an annular flange adapted to overlie said header, said flange being formed with a plurality of spaced keyhole slots and cam members at the lateral edges of said slots, the surface of each of said cam members rising from a point adjacent the enlarged end of said slot to a point just short of the other end of said slot, and 'dropping from said last-mentioned point to said other end of said slot said header being provided with a plurality of correspondingly spaced headed lugs for cooperation with 'said cam members.

Y2. The combination with a metallic drum, orthe like, provided with annular header, 'said header being bent to provide -a substantially horizontal annular shelf shouldered a't its outer edge, a second annular shelf depressed vbelow the inner 4edge of lsaid 'first shelf, 'and -a down-turned annular flange at vthe inner edge of said vsecond shelf, and a plurality of upwardly yprojecting headed 'lugs -spaced a-"rour'i'd said `first shelf, the head of each of said lugs being formed an inverted cone, of Va disk-like v'closure for A'said drum comprising a 4central depressed Vportion "adaptedto fitfsn'i'igly with-insaid down-turned flangeandan 'annular flange adapted to overlie said first shelf and to abut the external shoulder thereof, an annular washer of circular cross section adapted to rest on said second shelf and adapted to be enclosed by said shelf and said closure, said flange being provided with a plurality of keyhole slots for cooperation with said lugs, and cam surfaces bounding said slots and adapted to cooperate with the lower surfaces of the heads of said lugs to cause rotation of said closure member to compress said washer.

3. The combination with a metallic drum, or the like, having an annular header, of a closure therefor comprising a disk-like member formed with a central depression adapted to fit within said header, the rim of said closure being formed with a plurality of keyhole slots bounded by cam surfaces, and a plurality of headed lugs on said header, said lugs being adapted to enter said slots, and the heads of said lugs being adapted to cooperate with said bounding cam surfaces.

et. The combination with a metallic drum, or the like, having an annular header, of a closure therefor comprising a disk-like mem'- ber formed with a central depression adapted to fit within said header, the rim of said closure being formed with a pluralityof keyhole slots bounded by cam surfaces, and a plurality of projecting lugs 'on said header, 'each of said Alugs being formed, at its free end, with a substantially conical head, said lugs being adapted to enter said slots, and 'the conical surfaces of said heads being vadapted to cooperate with said cam surfaces.

5. The combination with a metallic drum, or the like, having an 'annular header, Aof a closure therefor comprising a disk-like member formed with a central depression-*adapted to fit within said header, the rim of said closure being formed with a plurality of keyhole slots bounded by adjustable cam inembers, and a plurality of projecting lugs :on said header, each of said lugs 'being formed, at its free end, with Ia substantially conical head, said lugs being adapted to enter said slots, and the conical surfacesof "said heads being adapted to `cooperate with said 'cam members. i

6. In al closure for a metallic dru1n,or the like, having an yannular header provided with 1an lupst'anding headed lug, a `disk-like me'mber yhaving a keyhole -slot adjacent -its rim, cam surfaces bounding said slot, each yof said `cam surfaces rising from la point adjacent the enlarged 'end of said slot to a point just -short of the Vother end of said-slot, -anddropping from said last-'mentioned point to said other'end of said slot,'said lug being'ad'apted to enter said slot,*and saidhead being'adapted to cooperate with said'cam surfaces.

7. In 'aclosure fora metallic drum, or Ethe like, having-anfannula'r header providedw'ith an upstanding headed Ilug, a disk-like member having a keyhole fslot adjacent its rim,

cam surfaces bounding said slot, each of said cam surfaces rising gradually from a point adjacent the enlarged end of said slot to a point just short of the other end of said slot, and dropping suddenly from said last-mentioned point to said other end of said slot, said lug being adapted to enter said slot, and said head being adapted to cooperate With said cam surfaces.

8. In a closure for a metallic drum, or the like, having an annular header provided With an upstanding headed lug, the head of said lug being shaped as an inverted cone, a disklike member having a keyhole slot adjacent its rim, cam members bounding said slot, the surface of each of said cam members rising from a point adjacent the enlarged end of said slot to a point just short of the other end of said slot, and dropping from said lastmentioned point to said other end of said slot, and each of said cam members being adjustable in a direction transverse to the length of said slot, said lug being adapted to enter said slot, and said head being adapted to cooperate with said cam surfaces.

Signed by me this 1st day of March, 1928.

HARTLEY ELLIS. 

